Satisfying Your Gaming Addiction

Since it is the “Year of Luigi” how about a few suggestions?

Luigi, the most famous second-hand guy out there. We all know of him….as Mario’s brother but this guy’s popularity is more than some ‘main’ characters of other video game series! Since Nintendo has declared the year of 2013 to be the “Year of Luigi” and the fact that Luigi will be starring in many games this year ranging from Luigi Mansion 2 (release tomorrow), a new Mario & Luigi RPG game, and his own DLC pack for New Super Mario Bros U. (Nintendo Direct at it again!), I thought I might as well dip my hand into the hat. I think it is time for Luigi to get his own real game, outside his usual forte of higher-jump Mario in the Super Mario Bros series. Yes, yes we all know Luigi did have the Mario is Missing games and his most famous solo-adventure Luigi’s Mansion but I’m taking about a real Luigi adventure.

It’s not easy being able to create your own adventure, especially when you need a new game different from Mario. This explains why Luigi has tagged along with Mario for some time now, even in Super Mario Galaxy 2 it was just Luigi being himself in Mario’s game akin to his own style of gameplay (higher jump, slippery turns). So, here is my nice proposal list for Luigi to get his own ‘real’ adventure, something on the level of a Mario game.

1- Paper Luigi RPG

While I have not really thought of the best name for this RPG adventure for Luigi, the game idea has actually been brought up, by not me, but Luigi himself in Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door! As you may recall, Luigi was going off doing his own adventure to Mario’s in TTYD and, while I love Paper Mario to the core, Luigi’s own adventure seemed to be able to match that of Paper Mario. His story may add a little more humor and especially it would be more funny if he told it from a past perspective; as in writing in his diary so he could “stretch” the story like he usually does. For a Paper Luigi RPG, the game wouldn’t have to be different at all from the classic Paper Mario way (think more of Paper Mario 64) but they can add special Luigi-esque features [like a Luigi Mansion type world] or change it up to feature possibly more mini-games since Luigi is a little more on the light-hearted side. Heck, the Professor (E. Gadd) can provide Luigi with new items in this game, to help him on his quest.

Paper Luigi can go both ways as a 3DS spinoff or a home console, either way I would love to play this.

2- Super Luigi Adventures

Super Luigi Adventures would be something in the mix of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, but obviously in its own Luigi-fashioned way. Why not put Luigi in his own town, on a way to meet up with Mario having to collect Power Crystals, and having it overran by one of Bowser’s minions or Wario and Waluigi? While this may sound like a Super Mario 64 reboot, except with Luigi, there is nothing wrong with that classic 3D-world gameplay with a fun character. In fact, why not let Luigi use some things that haven’t been used for 3D Mario’s yet like a hammer as a weapon along with possibly giving him the thunder power of one of my personal favorites, Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga. [Which brings me to a point of making a Superstar Saga again but maybe 3D world, because although you were Mario and Luigi it was split perfectly that you WERE Mario and Luigi.]

This game would probably thrive better if it were meant for home consoles.

3- Super Mario Bros in….the unlikely trio

This game would be along the lines of Sly Cooper, in the fact of playing as different characters with different traits. Say the Mushroom Kingdom has become overrun or somebody that wasn’t Bowser has not kidnapped Peach and the Mario Bros cannot defeat the threat by themselves; they team up with Bowser and go to save the Princess. Mario would have classic Mario-platforming gameplay, while Luigi would be more of the gadgets man (ranging from the Kart to his Poltergust 3000), while Bowser’s stages would be full out destroying. Maybe to change up the flavor, you can make it co-op or call out your partners/switch at any time during the level if you feel like it. Again, this is the most non-Nintendo like idea I came up with just to see some change (although I despise change: see skyward sword).

Well, Luigi has always had my respect, see although I may be a Mario guy, as an older brother and younger brother I get both sides. Luigi, has his own cult be it him from Mario Party or Kart games, to his dominance as a secret character in all the Super Smash Bros games, Luigi is not-only the younger, taller brother of Mario (ironically so is my younger brother), but a mascot along with his brother of Nintendo and video games.

Edit: With Luigi Mansion 2 and the DLC of Super Luigi U coming out I would say Nintendo is moving forward for Luigi fans, but still he needs something to stand out!

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Michael Troina writes features and reviews Nintendo games for Analog Addiciton. When he’s not writing or playing games or sports, he’s out at his job at the Daily Bugle taking pictures as the web-slinger we all have come to love…either that or he’s getting sandwich saving one world at a time. Find him anywhere with this flavors.me/michaeltroina